The Army Black Knights (16-15) face off against the Florida Gulf Coast Eagles (18-13) in a postseason matchup at the Ocean Center. Army enters this game looking to bounce back from an inconsistent stretch, while FGCU comes in riding the momentum of a strong finish to their regular season. Can Army keep this one close, or will FGCU’s balanced attack prove too much?
One Minute Handicap
Army ATS Record: 14-15 overall (6-9 ATS on the road)
Florida Gulf Coast ATS Record: 16-14 overall (9-6 ATS on the road)
Head-to-Head: Teams are 1-1 straight up against each other all-time
Army’s Last 10 Games: 5-5 SU, 4-6 ATS
Florida Gulf Coast’s Last 10 Games: 6-4 SU, 4-6 ATS
Matchup Breakdown
Army has struggled with consistency, particularly on the defensive end. They allow 75.68 points per game, ranking near the bottom of Division I. Their last 10 games have been rocky (5-5 SU, 4-6 ATS), including a 55-84 blowout loss to Colgate and an 83-78 win over Elon. Their offense, averaging 73.68 PPG, relies heavily on outside shooting, but their 44.06% field goal percentage is concerning against FGCU’s tight perimeter defense.
Florida Gulf Coast has been solid down the stretch, winning 6 of their last 10 games while averaging 75.40 PPG over that span. Their defense has been the difference-maker, holding opponents to 69.42 PPG on 42.83% shooting. Their ability to limit second-chance opportunities (25.35 defensive rebounds per game) will be critical against an Army team that struggles to create extra possessions.
Key matchup advantage for FGCU comes in shooting efficiency. The Eagles are shooting 46.97% from the field (compared to Army’s 44.06%) and have a positive scoring differential (+2.97). Army, on the other hand, has a negative differential (-2.00) and struggles to defend the three-point line. FGCU’s 8.00 made threes per game could open this one up early.
